NIBCAA, South Carolina’s Gullah Cultural Ambassador, will present the 24^th Annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration and Festival throughout the month of February 2020. The annual celebration will reprise their award-winning Gullah Market, Paint and Sips and Arts Ob We People Exhibit and Sale. New features for this year’s celebration include the featured artwork “Two Pounds” by artist and educator Alvin Glenn and Gullah Tales and Songs with Ron Daise.

By Margaret Evans, Editor

In the preface to his Pulitzer and Tony winning play Doubt: A Parable, John Patrick Shanley wrote, "There is a symptom apparent in America right now. It’s evident in political talk shows, in entertainment coverage, in artistic criticism of every kind, in religious discussion. We are living in a courtroom culture. We were living in a celebrity culture, but that’s dead. Now we’re only interested in celebrities if they’re in court. We are living in a culture of extreme advocacy, of confrontation, of judgment, and of verdict. Discussion has given way to debate. Communication has become a contest of wills. Public talking has become obnoxious and insincere. Why? Maybe it’s because deep down under the chatter we have come to a place where we know that we don’t know… anything. But nobody’s willing to say that."

No other figure in the arts elicits such a strong emotional response as does Beethoven. People may pity van Gogh, respect Michelangelo and Shakespeare, admire Leonardo da Vinci but Beethoven immediately calls up a powerful, positive image: the tough, angry genius creating deeply expressive masterpieces in the face of adversity.

The Beaufort Beach Ball Fundraiser & Auction presented by Merrill, A Bank of America Company, will be held Saturday, Jan. 18 from 6 pm – 11 pm at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort.  It’s a Palm-Beach inspired beach party with a Lowcountry twist, the perfect opportunity to don your favorite sundress, swankiest shorts and fancy flip flops in January!